17/10/2012 (Bernama) - China's import of palm oil is foreseen to reach about six million tonnes next year due to increasing demand, says the Malaysian Palm Oil Council.

Its Regional Manager for China, Desmond Ng said as the Chinese economy and population continued to grow, demand for palm oil will also increase steadily, but at a slower pace in tandem with that of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

"Direct usage of palm oil or substituting other oils in the food processing industry may decline. The further processing of palm oil will play a bigger role for the product in the country," he said during his presentation on the Outlook of China's Oils and Fats Industry in 2013 at the Palm Oil Trade Fair and Seminar (POTS) here today.